2007 Tonneau Cover Latch Parts

Ford SportTrac Forum

Help Support Ford SportTrac Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

blksn8k

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 24, 2006
Messages
1,484
Reaction score
20
Location
Pennsylvania
The right front (passenger side) latch on my '07 factory tonneau cover has a broken return spring. I finally had to remove the entire latch assembly since it would not return to the unlocked position and therefore would not allow that side to close completely.
Is it possible to even buy an OEM latch assembly from Ford? I checked Tasca Ford's website and the tonneau cover parts diagram does not even list the latches...
Anyone have a good used one?
 
Can you just get a spring ??? and make it work ? I know the latches are not sold separate.
 
I might be able to replace the spring if I knew what the broken end is supposed to look like. I haven't tried to drive the pin out yet that holds that part of the assembly including the spring together. I might even be able to salvage the old spring by bending the broken end once I figure out what it fits into.
 
Look at the Left Rear corner latch. the diagonals are the same.
 
Turns out you cannot drive the pins out since they are not really pins, or at least not a single diameter pin. The sheet metal body of the latch is assembled over the pins with the "trigger" pieces of the latch sandwiched in between the larger diameter portion of the pin and a spacer sleeve. All of that is designed to center the trigger in the assembly. Now that I have it apart I think it is fixable. I heated the end of the spring so I could bend it. I will probably use a 5/16" bolt with some washers in place of the pin. Not much choice since I had to drill one of the pins out to get it apart. The ends of the pins are mushroomed to hold everything together. The pins basically serve double duty as rivets. A 1" long bolt and jam nut should serve the same purpose. Might work...
 
Success!

The 1st pic shows the modified latch in the open position. The 2nd shows how I had to grind the bolt and nut for clearance with the bed mounted striker. The 3rd is the latch in the closed position and the 4th is with the lid fully closed. And yes, it even opens. LOL.
IMG_2221.jpg

IMG_2220.jpg
IMG_2222.jpg
IMG_2219.jpg
 
Top